THOUGHT
OF THE DAY
C. Sitarama
Murti
“Dust thou
art, to dust thou returnest”: this declaration applies only to the body and not
to the soul, which is incorporeal and eternal.
“We are born in sin, grow in sin, die in sin”: we do not subscribe to
this cynical view. For we hold the
conviction that “With trailing clouds of glory do we come from GOD, who is our
home” and that “Heaven lies about us in our infancy” The source from which we
emerge is Infinite, Eternal, Inexhaustible Love; and we are expected to return
to our Home after a brief sojourn on this earth. We are born in Love; we are brought up in Love. But as we grow, we stray away from the
straight course of our pilgrimage by a perverse exercise of talents we are endowed
with. I am not speaking of those who deliberately adopt the strategic
policy of the witches: “Fair is foul and foul is fair”. We do not belong to
that category. But unfortunately, we
stifle conscience, the voice of Love, and march ahead with a callous
bravado. We fail to understand the real
nature of Love. We get confused and
equate it with desire, with passion, with sex, with exclusiveness, with
possession, with obsession. Egoism, greed and selfishness command our
activities. We ignore the promptings of Love. But Love pursues us like a Hound
of Heaven. It knocks at our hearts. We
fail to recognize it. Yet it does not give up its solicitious hunt. Finally we
are obliged to open our hearts; and we feel its impact. But we know not how to welcome it and nurse
it with care and attention. This folly
makes life a tragedy. But Love, the
messenger of the ever-gracious Lord, continues its mission and finally captures
us with its delicious, delicate touches. Under its benevolence, life takes a
turn. We vision the entire universe and
its inhabitants as constituting a single, close-knit unit. Our whole outlook
undergoes a total transformation. We realize that the cosmos is a sacred temple
of the Supreme Lord and that we are His children. We become aware that “to Love
and to be loved” are basic urges, which make life purposeful and fruitful.
Under Heaven, one family!
Our caste is Human Kind!
And Fraternity binds us all
forever
with straps of steel!
Lead us, kindly Light, to the Land
of eternal peace and ineffable bliss!
May God’s blessings ever abide
with us!